The Coming of Christ, by Gustav Holst, was commissioned in 1927 by the Dean of Canterbury Cathedral, George Bell, as a setting of a text by John Masefield, words and music together forming a Mystery Play reminiscent of mediaeval religious dramas. Although the work received its première the following year to critical acclaim, it was thereafter abandoned – until its resurrection at the English Music Festival in 2010; and it is here presented in recorded form for the first time.

EM Records is the recording arm of the English Music Festival and, as such, fulfils the EMF’s aims of celebrating and preserving overlooked works by British composers. EM Records release a mixture of both studio and live recordings from the Festival, giving listeners the chance to experience the fullest possible range of the Festival’s work. In keeping with the unique spirit of the Festival, each disc released by EM Records contains at least one World Première recording.

The label’s mission is to ensure that no English works worthy of hearing are ever again left unavailable to listeners. It represents a groundbreaking enterprise, presenting repertoire that, though previously unrecorded, is vital, vivid and powerful; and, through its commitment to this endeavour, complements the pioneering work of a leading and internationally-acclaimed Festival.